The Portage Aeros and United FC played to a 3-3 tie on Friday night in Winnipeg.

With the point gained from their effort, the Aeros (9-4-2) moved within a point of second-place El Condor FC and two points from the first-place Scorpions. However, El Condor FC was in action on Sunday, but the score was not available at press time.

Head coach Chad Green wasn’t happy with the way the team looked, overall.

“(We were) terrible,” said Green. “You think that we’d be pumped up, pretty excited for the game, knowing that it’s almost like a must-win game. We came out pretty flat.

“We played hard for about the first five minutes and after that, it just wasn’t pretty.”

United FC took a 3-1 lead at one point, but the Aeros managed to find the equalizer later on. Brandon Weir, Ben Wettlaufer —moved to forward, and Duane Chaves had the tallies for Portage.

“I give our guys credit — they battled back to tie it up late in the game, but it was desperation mode,” said Green.

Green said several players aren’t at the top of their games right now, something he’ll be looking to change with three games remaining on the docket.

“I’m going to take the responsibility, because as a coach, you’ve got to be able to get your guys ready and focused for the game,” said Green. “Some of our key guys just aren’t playing well. I don’t know if it’s almost like they’d rather be somewhere else, but you leave them on the field because you know they can be game-changers.

“Other guys are stepping up and playing really well, and that’s what’s been saving us the last couple of games.”

The Aeros will be in action again Saturday, Aug 25, as they take on Luso Canadian Soccer Club in an all important late season game.